Originally posted by @m
You don't have to, because if you don't have winXP you can't install WMP9. I have WMP7.1 and it just updated it or something to watch the trailer.
btw. I heard that Windows Media Player 9 is full of spyware like: cydoor, doubleclick etc. so when you do install it make sure you run ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) after it.
Actually the information here is false.
Windows Media Player 9 is available for ALL Windows OSs from 98SE to .NET Enterprise Server. It is Media Player 8 that is only available with XP.
As for the spyware issue, I've not seen any reports of Spyware in MP9, however <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1023-955514.html">This</a> article on the subject is rather interesting, especially this part:
Windows Media Player 9 Series may be one of the first new Microsoft products so clearly putting privacy policies and controls in the hands of consumers. Unlike competing products or earlier versions of Microsoft's media player, the privacy policies and settings option is the first thing a consumers sees the first time the product is started.
Sounds like A Good Thing™ to me.
Of course Microsoft make you download Windows Media Player 9 to watch the Halo 2 trailer, don't forget they own Bungie, the developers of Halo 1 and 2. It's a good business strategy. Not without faults mind you, people moan a lot, but it gets the info out. For example I didn't even know about Media Player 9 until I saw the Halo 2 trailer required it.
:)